Trousers-stretcher



2 SheetsSheet 1.

A. B. OOGSWELL.

TROUSERS STRETGHER.

No. 447,868. I Patented Mar. 10,1891.

(No Model.) A. B COGSWELL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TROUSERS STRETCHE'R. No. 447,868. Patented Mar. 10,1891.

Fi .3? Ja 6. F4 7 15 8.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. COGSIVELL, OF OSIVEGO, NEIV YORK.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 447,868, dated March 10, 1891.

Application filed December 6, 1890. Serial No. 373,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. UOGSW'ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oswego, Oswego county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Shapers and Hangers, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to a trousershanger for suspending trousers in an inverted position, which tends by the weight suspended from the bottoms to draw out the wrinkles and smooth the knees. The devices heretofore made for this purpose have been applicable to only one trousers-leg, so that a pair of them was required to sustain'the trousers.

My invention consists in a spring-body forked at both ends with forwardly-projecting prongs adapted to enter both the trouserslegs and curved to shape the bottoms of the legs, and each prong being provided with a spur projected from the convex side of the prong to engage the cloth.

As my invention is designed to furnish a very cheap construction, I do notdeem it desirable to employ shoes at the ends of the spring, as has been common heretofore, but prefer to curve the end of the spring itself.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the hanger in perspective applied to the bottom of trousers. Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 a plan, of the construction in its preferred form. Fig. 4 is a section of one trousers-leg near the bottom with the same device applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a plan, and Fig. 6 an edge view, of the device stamped from sheet-steel. Figs. 7 and 8 are a plan and edge view of another form of the device.

In all the constructions, a. is the body of the hanger, form ed of a single spring forked at the ends, with prongs b I), provided each with a spur c to engage the inside of the trousersleg, as shown in Fig. 4..

The cheapest form of the device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is made of round wire, the springa being extendedinto one of the prongs b and the other prong 19 formed by twisting a piece of wire upon the spring a at the base of the fork. In this construction the prongs are bent into a curve from the line of the spring to fit the inner side of the trousers-leg f, as shown in Fig. at, and the spur to engage the cloth is formed by looping the end 01 of each prong and bending the point of the wire across the prong, so as to project its extremity outside the line of the prong. The end of the point thus forms an elastic spur c, which projects normally but a slight distance outside the face of the prong, and thus penetrates the cloth but slightly at first, while it is capable, if the weight be heavy, of drawing more deeply into the cloth to hold the same firmly by the yielding of the wire end d in relation to the face of the prong. The rounded end of the prong, formed by reflexin g the wire end in a loop 6, greatly facilitates the introduction of the prongs independentlyinside the two trousers-legs to suspend both at the same time, as shown in Fig. 1. The device is therefore as convenient and effective as those hangers which are adapted to engage one leg only, while its construction is less expensive than that of two separate hangers of any form heretofore used.

The retracted spur-point a greatly facilitates the introduction of the hanger within the trousers-leg, while it equally promotes the grasp of the spur upon the cloth in sustaining the weight. A spur of similar kind is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, where the hanger is shown formed of fiat sheet-steel stamped out with the body a and prongs b and b all in one piece.

The spurs c are shown formed by slitting the inner side of each prong at a little distance from the end to form a retracted point, which when bent upward at an acute angle, as shown in Fig. 3, is readily introduced into the trousers-leg, and when the weight is imposed sustains the cloth in the desired manner.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the hanger made of sheet-steel with prongs having their ends bent upward at an angle to form the spurs c. A hanger made of spring-wire, as shown in Fig. 2, may also be formed with such pointed prongs instead of the reflexed ends d, to furnish a cheaper construction.

Fig. lshows the operation of the device, with prongs b at the opposite ends of the spring engaging the inside of one trousers-leg at its opposite sides, and the prongs b engaging the other trousers-leg in a similar manner. The single hanger thus operates 'to support both legs as effectively as the pair of hangers heretofore employed.

Fig. 4 shows the curved prongs pressing upon the inside of the trousers-legs f, and thus shaping them in the desired manner, while the spur c engages the cloth to sustain the weight.

The hanger and shaper made of round wire is preferable, because such wire is cheaper and easier worked than other spring material, and because the prongs may be formed by twisting pieces of wire together in various ways.

The round wire is not only free from corners, but the ends cl are readily bent backward, thus producing a loop e, and rounded end upon each prong, which is more readily inserted within the trousers-leg than the other forms shown in the drawings. The yielding nature of the spur-point 0, produced by this construction, also prevents undue strain upon and the distortion of the cloth, which occurs when a strong rigid point is projected into the same. Such a yielding spur presses into thecloth only in the degree required to sustain the weight of the trousers, and does not interfere with the shaping of the trousers-leg by the curved face of the prong, which is shown in Fig. 2.

With a yielding spur-point the prong is permitted to press into close contact with the cloth, as shown in Fig. 4, without resistance from the spur, and I have therefore made a special claim to such yielding spur-point as the preferred form of my invention.

I am aware of the state of the art disclosed in German Patent No. 13,710 and in United States Patents Nos. 373,545 and 391,244, and I hereby disclaim the constructions shown in the said patents, limiting myself to the invention specifically claimed herein.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. A trousers-hanger consisting in a springbody a, forked at its opposite ends with forwardly-projecting prongs curved to shape the bottom of the trousers, and provided upon their outer or convex sides with spurs to engage the cloth, substantially as herein set forth.

2. A trousers-hanger consisting in a spring-- body a, forked at its opposite ends with wire prongs, the wire of each prong being folded backward in a loop upon the inner side of the prong and its point bent across the prong and projected beyond the outer side of the same to form a spur yielding in relation to the prong, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A trousers-hanger folded at its opposite ends with wire prongs, the wires being joined together by twisting at the base of the fork, and the wire of each prong being folded back in a loop upon the inner side of the prong and its point bent across the prong and projected beyond the outer end of the same to form a spur yielding in relation to the prong, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR B. OOGSWELL.

Witnesses:

JOHN HUTOHINSON, A. WV. SINNAMON. 

